Open AccessEconomic recovery of oil trapped at fan margins using high angle wells and multiple hydraulic fractures. Quarterly report, April 1, 1996--June 30, 1996
Author(s) -
B.L. Niemeyer
Publication year - 1996
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Reports
DOI - 10.2172/402386
Subject(s) - geology , hydraulic fracturing , directional drilling , well stimulation , turbidite , petroleum engineering , fracture (geology) , magnetic dip , geotechnical engineering , petroleum reservoir , drilling , petrology , structural basin , reservoir engineering , petroleum , geomorphology , engineering , geophysics , mechanical engineering , paleontology
This project attempts to demonstrate the effectiveness of exploiting thin-layered, low-energy deposits at the distal margin of a prograding turbidite complex through the use of hydraulically-fractured, horizontal or high-angle wells. The combination of a horizontal or high-angle well and hydraulic fracturing will allow greater pay exposure than can be achieved with conventional vertical wells while maintaining vertical communication between thin interbedded layers and the wellbore. A high-angle well will be drilled in the fan margin portion of a slope-basin clastic reservoir and will be completed with multiple hydraulic-fracture treatments. Geologic modeling, reservoir characterization, and fine-grid reservoir simulation will be used to select the well location and orientation. Design parameters for the hydraulic fracture treatments will be determined by fracturing an existing test well. Fracture azimuth will be predicted, in part, by passive seismic monitoring from an offset well during fracture stimulation of the test well